The Philadelphia 76ers have elevated from merely sniffing the playoffs, to being potential contenders to garner the third seed by the end of this weekend with a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Since the start of the calendar year, the Sixers have gone 30-11 — the best overall record in the Eastern Conference since, according to Justin Termine of SiriusXM Radio.

Actively riding an 11-game streak, even without their All-Star center Joel Embiid — the Sixers will have two more tests before the playoffs. First the Cavs on Friday and then the Milwaukee Bucks during their season finale next Wednesday — a team that is fighting for the last playoff spot available.

Philadelphia is hitting stride at the right time and is bound to have all of its guns back in the firing gallery if they can get through this last stretch of the season and take care of business in the first round against teams that have struggled with consistency in the second half.

The Sixers will play three of their last five games at home at the Wells Fargo Center, including their two most pivotal matchups against Cleveland and Milwaukee — a great helping hand for reaching that No. 3 seed by year's end.